Anthrax Fears Unfounded-Community Prepared
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First Class Permit 30 + . '++5ry/ IFYI. i ' J THE C !a w w w t h e a r g u s c o m Football topples Writing is the right IWU: a global Wheaton thing to do experience? SPORTS, PAGE 12 OPINIONS, PAGE 9 FEATURES, PAGE 3 _ __I_~ _ _ ~_I _~ _ __ _ __~_~____~~ I _~__~~___ ~1___~______~_________~____~; ____~___~_____;_____F________ _~________I___l__l____ ____ _ __~__ __ Anthrax fears unfounded-community prepared KATIE COLEMAN there has been some fine-tuning lately," Robert sures to protect their employees and constituents. GRETCHEN GRABOWSKi Keller, director of the McLean County health "We have to be on guard when something like WRITERS department, said. "If there was a suspicious case this happens," Bloomington Postmaster Elwin STAFF it would first and foremost be a law enforcement Shau said. "Contingency plans must be in effect issue." because, although it's only happening right now Many people assume Bloomington-Normal is If law officials decided it was a real threat, in New York and D.C. we have to be prepared." safely tucked away in the cornfields of the they would contact the FBI, which handles all Although the postmaster could not comment Midwest. But with the recent threat of anthrax possible bio-terrorism cases. on the specifics of his contingency plan, the exposure and infection across the nation, citizens Should the specimen test positive for anthrax Illinois Wesleyan University mailroom is just are wondering if the community will be ready to or any other bio-specimen, the health department using "common sense," according to Eric handle an outbreak, should the unlikely occur. would work with medical practitioners to admin- Gordon, IWU mailroom coordinator. According to Jon Dey, professor of biology, ister a 60-day antibiotic regimen to those IWU Printing and Mailing Services has copies the major concern with anthrax used to be that exposed. But even if it tests negative, department of procedures from the FBI website on hand, but local government and health officials were officials would keep track of potentially exposed "there's no tell-tale signs [of anthrax]." unprepared for what can happen. individuals for 60 days. "That's what's so scary about the whole thing- "Now, given recent events, if there were any After that, the matter rests entirely with law someone could just slip something through here outbreaks, things are really geared up," Dey said. enforcement, but local facilities, such as the and we'd never know it," Gordon said. "There has been a detailed procedure for bio- Bloomington post offices, still must take mea- Se-- terrorism attacks in place for about a year, but eN----NTHR With the threat of anthrax lingering in America, special precautions are being made around the IWU campus, as well as in the Bloomington-Normal area. Mail distributors are told to look out for any suspicious-looking mail or packages they handle. BRIAN DUFFY/THE ARGUS Campus Safety Examined campus awareness. Including fea- of the iceberg, and that concerns me, JEANETTE OTIS tured speaker, Alyce LaViolette, the but it's a good sign that victims are STAFF WRITER Clothesline Project, which is a color- more comfortable reporting the coded clothesline of shirts made by crimes," Matthews said. Editor's note: First of a two-part seg- victims of physical, verbal or sexual According to Director of ment on Domestic Violence at IWU abuse and the Silent Witness day Counseling Services Connie Horton, which included cutouts of figures dis- counseling services are open to stu- When you're at a small college, it's played in the Nell Eckley lounge. dents whether they report the crime easy to trust everyone around you- According to Matt Damschroder, or not. you're all 18-22, you're all pursuing director of residential life, the percep- "Much of the difficulty is the self- higher education and you all live in tion that domestic violence doesn't blame of the survivor. They may not the same community. occur in college relationships is false. think they're a victim at first," Horton It's easy to forget that it's not the "There is physical and mental said. "Most of the time, it happens safest place on earth. abuse on campus between partners, in with someone they know or that they "The 'Illinois Wesleyan bubble' is their families and in their communi- have a relationship with." the students' creation, not the ties for students, faculty and staff," Greder said, "A lot of the time University's," Darcy Greder, associ- Damschroder said. "It's an issue that 'working out a yes' is a part of dating. ate dean of students, said. "We're resonates, although it may not be But legally, 'working out a yes' is Chuck D, leader of the rap group Public Enemy, came to speak at IWU on Tuesday. Chuck shocked every time a student disclos- directly apparent all th'e time." defined as rape. Even if the couple addressed an audience of about 175 students on "Rap Race Reality" and technology, es they never lock their doors." According to Dean of Students Jim has had sex before, a no is a no." In recognition of National Matthews, there have been four alle- According to Greder, almost all the believes that music of any which is his view of the aim of rap and hip-hop music. Chuck Domestic Violence Awareness gations of sexual assault and sexual campus cases have involved alcohol form is meant to transcend social boundaries and to unite people. He described hip-hop month, the Office of Residential Life misconduct this semester. According and other substances. as "a world-wide religion for people under 30" that makes people think beyond their own co-sponsored programs with to on-line campus security statistics, "The comfortable atmosphere of Women's Studies and the office of of the world. there were two reports total last year. the campus gives rise to relaxing perspective Fraternity and Sorority Life toward "I think the numbers are just the tip BRIAN DUFFY/THE ARGUS seeSAFETY, p. 2 NEWSl 2 A OCTOBER 26, 2001 IWU and ISU Though anthrax is difficult to detect, individu- Visa," Stevens said. "Because they didn't ask for als most at risk under normal circumstances are it, they think it's strange." those in close contact with grazing animals, such Stevens advises that people should be aware of sponsor community as cattle, sheep and goats. According to sources at the facts and realize the information they obtain is the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the sub- not always accurate. In terms of handling pack- stance may be found in the animals' skin or fur ages, one should look for signs of oily stains, and can often spread to individuals who, when excessive postage or misspellings of common Garba celebration working with the animals, have open wounds. words. When meant as a weapon, however, anthrax The fact that these signs are so easy to repro- would likely be delivered through aerosolization duce, however, poses the greatest threat to local to tradition, come to her for help in order to and acquired through inhalation. law enforcement, according to Stevens. There is STACY LAZARZ overcome evils." STAFF WRITER In cases of bio-terrorism, anthrax is a greater always the possibility of a hoax. The festival was intended for the whole com- threat because terrorists with the ability to do so "If someone creates a hoax, we'll go after them munity, not just IWU students. Students from can reproduce the substance in massive amounts, with everything we can," Stevens said. "This The Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State IWU and ISU were in attendance, in addition to Dey said. Because anthrax spores have a tendency means everything from the federal level to civil South Asian Student Associations (SASA) children, students and parents from to clump together once produced, making it diffi- suits." hosted the Indian celebration Garba on Oct. 12. Bloomington and Normal. cult to enter the nasal passage and lungs, great On campus, Vice President of Business and Garba is usually a nine-day celebration that "It was a lot of fun, and we're hoping to quantities are necessary if an individual is to Finance Ken Browning sent out an email to all celebrates Druga, the goddess of all strength. It make it an annual event," SASA board member become infected. faculty and staff at IWU advising them to look included a small worshipping ceremony fol- junior Rina Bhanot said. The latest data from the CDC said there are 32 over the information posted on the CDC's web- lowed by two hours of dance. SASA's purpose is to bring culture and polit- known cases of anthrax exposure, 12 cases of site. Female and male dancers wore traditional ical awareness to the IWU community and to infection and three deaths. Each fatality resulted According to Browning, he received informa- Indian costume, women dressed in lenghas and boost community within the Southern Asian from inhalation infection. tion about the website from the university's risk saris and men in kurta pajamas. Ceremonial minorities. According to members, SASA tries Despite the grim statistics, however, management consultants. Browning, along with costumes vary from region to region in India, to include many other Asian cultures because Bloomington-Normal law enforcement officials other administrators, said hedecided to send out but they generally havesimilar elements. of the significant number of Asian students maintain local residents should not be overly con- the message "even though there's no real risk The festival began with a brief ceremony enrolled at IWU.